Lands End Trail

Lands End is the rugged north-west corner of San Francisco, where the city meets the Pacific at the mouth of the Golden Gate. It is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, run by the National Park Service, and it feels a long way from downtown even though it is within the city limits. The Yelamu Ohlone lived here long before the Spanish arrived, and in the 19th century it became a resort area for wealthy visitors, reached first by stagecoach and later by a steam train built by Adolph Sutro.

The main route is the Coastal Trail, which follows the bed of the old Cliff House railway along the cliffs, with views over the Pacific and towards the Golden Gate and the bridge. A spur trail drops down to Mile Rock Beach, and at low tide you can see the remains of shipwrecks from the trail and from Mile Rock. At the western end are the ruins of the Sutro Baths, below the Point Lobos overlook, and the gardens of Sutro Heights are nearby.

Other stops along the way include a memorial to the cruiser USS San Francisco, which took 45 hits and suffered 25 fires at Guadalcanal in 1942, with an improved overlook beside it. The Lands End Lookout visitor centre, which opened in 2012, is the place to pick up information and the park brochure, which includes Muni bus lines. At the eastern end, you can climb to the Legion of Honor for another view over the city and return along the El Camino del Mar trail.

The walk suits most fitness levels. The section from the Merrie Way trailhead is wheelchair accessible as far as the Mile Rock Overlook, and bikes can use the trail as far as the Eagles Point steps; beyond that there are stairs and uneven ground. Allow one to two hours for an out-and-back walk, more if you visit the Legion of Honor. Stay on the marked paths and keep your distance from cliff edges, as the National Park Service advises.

There is parking at the Merrie Way lot near the Lookout, and Muni buses serve the area. Bring layers, as the wind and fog can arrive quickly at this exposed corner of the coast, and pack water and snacks for the walk.